During the parliamentary party meeting held with Prime Minister Abbasi in the chair, mechanism for two Senate seats of the federal capital was discussed.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sh Aftab would be coordinating with the party members as well the coalition partners to ensure maximum participation in these elections which would be won by the PML-N-backed candidates with ease. But with the maximum turnout of PML-N and coalition partners’ members, the government wants to give a message to its opponents that the party stands united even in these difficult times, a source in the party stated.

Former interior minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan who met with fellow party MNAs for a few hours in the Parliament House did not attend the parliamentary party meeting held and left soon after offering Juma prayers.

He held a meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi in the corridors and a brief interaction was confined to exchange of pleasantries.

But senior PML-N leaders with whom he had interacted insisted Ch Nisar would turn up tomorrow and cast his vote for the ruling party candidates fielded for the federal capital.

An embarrassing situation arose when one of the party parliamentarians asked the prime minister to take oath of allegiance from the candidates the party had fielded for the Senate from the federal capital, Mushahid Hussain Syed and Asad Junejo.

It so happened when Abbasi introduced Mushahid Hussain and Asad Junejo to the party MPs, MNA Hamid Hameed rose to his seat and demanded the prime Minister seek oath of allegiance from both of them, keeping in view their past track record so that they could stand by the leadership in difficult times.

Abbasi expressed his dismay and displeasure when MNA Rumaish Kumar brought to his notice that some party MPs, including him, were receiving anonymous calls, giving them directions for the Senate vote.

Prime Minister directed the party MPs to phone him if anyone receives such an anonymous call so that an appropriate action could be taken.

Rumaish Kumar informed the meeting that some of the parliamentarians were receiving calls from unknown numbers and were being directed for particular actions.

“The same kind of calls had been made ahead of elections for the party chief and now certain elements are trying to influence the upcoming Senate elections,” Kumar said, urging Prime Minister Abbasi to take an immediate action.

Abbasi expressed his anger over the situation and directed the MPs to immediately inform him of such calls for appropriate action.